Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 6.4 million tons in July, an increase of 7 percent compared to June, but a drop of 8.2 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers' Association. Loadings also trailed the month's long-term average by 6.5 percent.
Shipments from US ports totaled 5.7 million tons, a decrease of 5.2 percent compared to a year ago. The July total included 490,000 tons shipped to Québec City for loading into oceangoing vessels and delivery overseas. Year-to-date overseas exports total 1,550,000 tons.
Shipments from Canadian ports to Great Lakes destinations totaled 775,000 tons, a decrease of 20.1 percent compared to a year ago.
Year-to-date, the Lakes iron ore trade stands at 29.6 million tons, a decrease of 8.1 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings are 4.1 percent below the long-term average for the January- July timeframe.